Blog - Decor Fix

Room Tour: Dana’s Feminine Rustic Space

I ‘m excited to share a gorgeous home with you today that belongs to my sweet friend, Dana. She enlisted me to help with a little styling on her mantel. The amazing ceramic moose from Z Gallerie was Dana’s splurge and focal point for the whole room. His name is Francis…He has quite a presence, doesn’t he? We didn’t want anything that might distract from his glorious presence in the room, so mantel decor needed to be picked with intention.

I suggested that she use several different hurricane globes with white candles with a variety of twigs and pussy willows mixed in. This is neutral enough that she could change it seasonally, but it won’t take away from the moose head.

A seasoned DIYer, Dana refinished the console table and also created white “book jackets” on her shelves. She grouped the books by tying them together with twine. Dana’s style is a great blend of feminine and rustic. She carries the same color scheme throughout the formal living room and dining room, which are attached.

The dining table is from Pier 1. That amazing buffet cart below is from a shop called Loft in her hometown of Austin. (All the cool kids come from Austin. This is true.)

Remember the book of botanicals I tore pages from and framed? Dana was the one who discovered it. Below is her botanical gallery hanging created from the pages. She found the little “coffee table” at a garage sale we went to together; it cost a whopping $2. Can you believe that?

Here’s Dana with Sara Lee. If you’ve seen some of my other posts (with Tanya, or Molly, or Stacie), you may be asking the question, “Are all of your friends gorgeous?”. Yes. Yes they are. Sometimes I have to stop myself from staring. At least they love me and aren’t creeped out when I gush over their amazing hair and poreless skin. OK, stopping now. Isn’t that stonework in the entry just beautiful too?

I wanted to throw in another view of Francis. Such a handsome fella’.

Vanilla Bean Pots de Creme

| by Heather Freeman

I have to admit, I’ve never actually cooked with real vanilla beans before. They’re one of those gourmet Martha-like items. At market this weekend I tried to hide my “I’m actually taking these puppies home with me!” excitement with an “Oh, yes. I buy these all the time” vibe.

Don’t let the fancy French name fool you; this is not a complicated dessert. Vanilla bean pots de creme is a delightful custard made up of only four ingredients. I found the recipe via the New York Times, but adjusted some of the cooking instructions a bit. Here’s what you’ll need to pick up if you want to give it a try:

Cooking Instructions:

1. Heat your oven to 320 degrees. Then split each vanilla bean down the center lengthwise.

2. Add cream to a saucepan and scrape seeds into the pan.

3. Add bean pods to the pan as well. Heat until steam rises from the cream and them remove from heat. Cover and steep for 10 minutes. Remove pods from the pan.

4. Add 1/2 cup of sugar to 6 egg yolks. Beat until light. (I’d say this was around 3 minutes for me.)

5. Place 4 ramekins in a baking dish. Add water until the ramekins are half way covered.

6. Add one fourth of the cream mixture to eggs and sugar. Stir until combined.

7. Add egg mixture to the cream mixture and combine.

8. Pour into ramekins and cover with foil.

9. Bake 30-40 minutes until the center is just slightly jiggly. The baking time could vary depending on your oven. I’d say check it after 30 minutes. If the majority of custard still jiggles, keep it in 5 more minutes. (Let’s see how many times I can use any form of the word jiggle in this post…jiggle. jiggly. jigglified. Too much?)

10. Chill for 2 hours and then serve. These store fine overnight as well, so you could easily make them a day ahead. You’ll need to be very disciplined for them to make it that long without being consumed.

If you like creme brulee and vanilla bean ice cream, then you’ll love these little “pots of cream”. I added some organic mint and strawberries. You could pair them with almost anything but don’t really need to. They put on quite the show without a supporting cast. Personally I think adding a little vegetation to my cream and sugar takes an edge off the guilt…

DIY: Make A Fabric Banner

| by Heather Freeman

Remember my 30th birthday brunch? I got an email asking about the fabric banner used for decoration, and I thought it would be a good idea to show you how to make a fabric banner like mine. I’m not saying it was quick. Cheap and easy? Oh yes. (Poor girl, I’m gonna’ get her bad a reputation on Pinterest if I keep talking like that.)

I purchased this piping/chord (don’t really know what it is?) at the fabric store for under $2 a yard. Luckily, the fabric was on sale for $3.99 a yard. I chose fabrics that looked the same on both sides. This is key for this project. I got 1/2 yard of each color.

1. To begin, cut the strips about one and a half inches wide. This was the most time-consuming part. (I suggest watching an episode of Mad Men or two episodes of Modern Family to help pass the time.) The width of each strip will vary some, especially if you plan to later incorporate software machine embroidery into the project. Several of mine were crooked, but this doesn’t really matter in the long run. Don’t get hung up on making it perfect—you’ll drive yourself crazy, and this cheap project will end up costing you your sanity.

2. After you’ve cut all the strips, I laid them in piles by color. I wish I had taken a picture of all the little piles; they looked like pastel “hay” stacks across my living room.

3. Next, tie a knot connecting the fabric strip to the chord starting in the center of the chord. Continue adding and knotting fabric strips to each side. You could go for a pattern, but I kind of picked from each stack randomly. I wanted it to feel a bit whimsical.

I had to show you guys the following pics…I asked Stu to pose while I took test shots for the banner pic. Consider this the gag reel.

Can you tell how happy he is to be doing this? After about five minutes he asked, “How much does a tripod cost?”

Greyson’s Nursery

| by Heather Freeman

Remember the bow tie baby shower I had for my BFF Tanya? Well, her “Little Mister” arrived in July and has made his mark already. Even though he’s barely seven months, Greyson already knows that chevron is the “it” print for all modern nurseries.

Tanya MADE this hot air balloon mobile. Get this…It only cost her $10! When she started shopping, both of us were shocked to see how much cute mobiles cost. There were several adorable felty versions that were priced well over $50. Maybe this is normal, but we’re far too cheap thrifty to think that price tag is worth it. So when she found the tiered metal frame on clearance at Urban outfitters, we figured that it was too good a deal to pass up and felt confident that some stroke of crafty genius would eventually strike her. Enter the hot air balloon template at her school. (She’s a teacher too; hence the need to be thrifty-wink, wink.) She picked out paper from Michael’s to tie in all the colors of the room. Hello cheap-DIY-unique mobile!!!

She obsessed over this vintage yellow scale found at one our local flea markets for weeks. After “stalking” it for a while, she finally decided it was worth the splurge. The precious needle work was actually hanging in her husband’s nursery when he was a baby. It’s probably my favorite thing in the entire room…

Jonathan, her husband, created the faux board and batten himself. This was his first attempt at a project like this, and it looks even better in person that in pics. Can you IMAGINE the patience that took??

After searching all over the web (and calling to complain a time or two), Tanya couldn’t find any curtains that she really loved. Instead of settling, she purchased plain white panels from Target and then sewed a multi-colored chevron print to the bottom of each panel as well as her crib skirt. The left over fabric was used to line the back of the book shelves.

Me holding Greyson with my “Do I look I know what I’m doing holding a baby?” face. Meanwhile, Greyson’s making his, “Mom, this lady doesn’t have a clue” face.

Question for those of you with kids…Tanya’s must-have item was the little yellow scale. What was your “must have” for a nursery?

DIY: Chalk Paint Door

| by Heather Freeman

Remember that chalk paint project I was worried about? Well, it took FOUR stinking coats, but finally the basement door serves a double purpose…

I LOVE chalk paint, probably a little too much. I DIY’d a chalk paint door in my classroom makeover and decided to try it at home too.

It started with a plan, just a little sketch in my notebook. The supplies cost a total of $22 from Lowes. This was my first time using Frogtape, and I fell in love. I’d been avoiding this particular brand of painter’s tape for a while now even though DIYer’s have sung its praises since it hit shelves.

An Irrational Fear…
I’m going to be honest and divulge a little something about myself which is sad and ridiculous; I am terrified of frogs. The fear is so intense that I have an aversion to even cartoon frogs or things named after them. I apologize if you are a champion for these creatures’ cause, but I really can’t help my physical and emotional repulsion to amphibians.

It’s actually not a laughing matter, and I don’t usually like telling people. (They typically think I’m kidding and try to see how I’ll respond to a live frog.) Growing up in Houston, frogs and toads were everywhere. I have very early memories of crying and begging my parents to carry me into the house, so I wouldn’t risk stepping on the ones that camped out on our front porch. I think I suffered PTSD from my 7th grade science lab dissection, and the problem only got worse. Now I’m an adult with a completely irrational fear who’s blogging about it on a post that has nothing to do with the issue.

Readers, forgive me. Blogging is cheaper than therapy.

Chalk Paint Tips
1. Sand the door you plan on using beforehand.
2. Plan to apply several coats, allowing each to dry overnight before applying the next one.
3. As pictured above, before you write on the surface you have to “chalk” it. Just rub the entire surface with chalk and then clean it off. This allows the chalk you write with to adhere better.
4. I used a combination of white paint pen (calendar grid), chalk pen ( “Remember To” section), and actual chalk. I knew that I wanted the calendar grid to be permanent, and it blends so well with chalk. The chalk paint pens are great because they write very precisely. They don’t erase quite as easily as real chalk does, so I tried to use real chalk for items I know will change often.

A week in and I stop and stare at my door any chance I get. Even if I’m not actually more organized than I was before, at least I know what day it is! Anyone have an area of their house that they recently chalk painted or are contemplating using chalk paint for?

Roasted Chickpeas

| by Heather Freeman

After seeing recipes for roasted chickpeas all over the web, this article on thekitchn.com convinced me give them a try. It lists fifteen different ways to make roasted chickpeas. I went with the one that uses lime, chili, and cilantro. Uh-huh. I think you could put that combo on cardboard, and it would be edible.

Here’s a little HIGH-LOW for this snack:

High:

Tastes AMAZING, pretty healthy, and vegan approved (Ok, that was three.)

Low:

They took almost 50 minutes to cook. (That is WAY too long for a snack on a whim, so you really have to plan in advance.)

If you decide to try it, here’s what you’ll need to pick up at the store:

Cooking Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with foil.
2. Drain and rinse one 15-ounce can of chickpeas. Spread out evenly over the foil.
3. Bake for 45-50 minutes, turning every 15 minutes. (I forgot and only did this half way through. They still tasted ok to me…)
4. Toward the end of the baking time, combine 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon of fresh lime juice, 2 teaspoons of chili powder, 1 teaspoon of cumin, a small handful of chopped cilantro, (I like a lot of cilantro, but you could use just a little if it’s too overpowering.), and 1/2 teaspoon of salt (more later if you like). Whisk together in a bowl.
5. Remove a couple chickpeas from the pan after 45 minutes and let cool for a minute before taste testing. They should be crunchy on the outside. If not, you know that they’ll need a couple more minutes bake time.
6. After removing from the oven, allow the chickpeas cool for a few minutes. Toss with the spice and oil mixture. (Add more salt if you love your sodium like I do.)
7. These taste best if eaten shortly after they’re roasted.

Wouldn’t these be great for your Super Bowl party? Anyone else have another healthy alternative to the typical stuff we eat during games?

DIY: Metallic Art and Family Photos

| by Heather Freeman

When it came time to pack away Christmas decor, I had a hard time dragging my gold dot art to the attic. I decided to find a semi-permanent home for it. I’d been waiting to hang these pictures of our grandparents for a while but wasn’t sure where or how.

I used two of the frames from my botanical art that was in the dining room. The distressed silver frames and another DIY canvas project added a little more metallic to the formal living room. (I know…I’m teetering on the verge of overkill.) Eventually this wall will house several photos, but I want to avoid the traditional gallery hanging of family pictures. Until I figure out exactly how to pull that off, the canvases work well to balance out the space. They were cheap, bright, and have a little bling.

Frames (repurposed from the dining room) + punches and gold paper (had on hand) +canvases (purchased for 40%) + $4 stickers + $3 paint pen = $21

My grandparents Mardria and James on their wedding day and Stu’s grandparents, Mable and Glen.

The pictures in this collection are priceless. Stu’s grandparents lived down the street and saw him everyday from the time he was born until he left for college. I’ve posted about my grandmother here before. She was a feisty Texas woman who dedicated her life to sharing her faith and loving those most would deem “unlovable”. She could cook anything you asked and never needed to read a recipe to do it. Pawpaw was a Texas rancher who gave up his dream in the 1950’s to start an orphanage in India. Together they parented dozens of orphans showing them love they would never see otherwise.

All four of these wonderful people have passed away. There’s nothing harder than saying goodbye to someone who had such a huge hand in raising you. It becomes a bit easier when you realize your life was shaped by the love and prayers poured out by a grandparent, and this impact will last forever.

In other news…I have chalk paint, people. I’m hoping tonight’s project works out as well as I’m picturing it in my head.

DIY Coasters

| by Heather Freeman

The last few years I tend to wear smaller and smaller earrings. Maybe this is a sign that I’m getting older. When I saw these ladies hanging on rack, they stopped me cold. The picture doesn’t do their 4 inch diameter justice. Who would wear these? Seriously, who?!?

You’d have to be a middle schooler to think these things are worth lugging around. They were so comically gigantic that my friend April and I joked about turning them into coasters. Then there was a silent pause…both our heads tilted to one side. At the same time, we laughed and determined it should happen. (Meanwhile scantily clad sales girls averted their eyes away from us and towards our husbands who were actually there to try on shoes.)

Really, these poor earrings deserved a second shot in life. They couldn’t help it that they ended up on the shelf of an over-priced shoe store. Maybe they had a rough childhood. I don’t know their background. Now, they’re living a much more respectable life holding iced tea and water. It felt good giving back. Where would those “coasters” be if I hadn’t swooped in and saved them? Probably bouncing beside a cheek that wears glittery makeup and stays out too late in questionable establishments.

These of course ended up in my formal living room, where I’m adding metallics at every turn. This addition only set me back $8. Don’t you love a happy (repurposed) ending?

**Update** Based on a reader’s suggestion, I hot glued a little felt to the bottom, so they stay put a bit better on the table surface.

Soiree: Camp Liam

| by Heather Freeman

My sweet friend Laura created this wonderful camping themed party for her son Liam’s 3rd birthday. Get ready for this little tidbit…except for the invites and cake, she “threw it all together” the morning of the party. (I fully expect some of you to be throwing your hands up in the air saying, “Oh my gosh! What the heck?” because that’s what I did.) Yes, my super busy and talented friend went to Wal-Mart and concocted all this adorableness spur of the moment. She and her sisters set everything up in her in-laws’ backyard.

“I’d seen so many cute ideas on Pinterest, and then just never got around to doing them. We weren’t even sure if we’d be able to have the party outside that day, so I just waited it out. Last minute we decided to go ahead with the party, and everything just came together!”

From Laura…”Here is the recipe. We added the lemons and limes cut up inside.”
BUG JUICE
Ingredients:
2 (3 oz) packages lime flavored gelatin mix
1 quart of hot water
1 (46 oz) can pineapple juice
2 (12 fluid oz) cans frozen orange juice concentrate thawed
2 cups of white sugar
4 1/2 cups cold water
2 liters ginger ale

Directions:
1. In a large sauce pan, dissolve the gelatin in 1 quart of hot water. Allow to cool.
2. When gelatin is cool, pour into a large punch bowl. Stir in pineapple juice, orange juice, sugar and 4 1/2 cups of cold water. Pour in ginger ale just before serving.
*Bargain Mom tip: You could add dollops of lime sherbet to make it frothy.

Yes, easy as that. It all just came together… Uh-huh. Splendid. Do I sound bitter? No, no, not me. I just don’t understand how I lose sleep over parties that I throw because I couldn’t find napkins that matched the icing (or something equally ridiculous). Then Laura does this on a whim, and it turns out this amazing! I need a little more “on a whim” in my life. Maybe next time I’ll take her approach and not do anything until the day of the party…Ok, honestly that would drive me mad. It worked pretty darn well for her crew though. Her little man’s shin dig was a hit with kids and adults. She said that all of her nieces and nephews are now requesting birthdays where they get their own camp. How cute.

-All photos by Jana Maria

This proves that you don’t have to custom order decor from Etsy months in advance or have every detail mapped out to have a unique party. Even Wal-Mart can supply the makings for a fun and memorable soiree.

CREDITS:
Pics: www.janamariephotos.com
Invites: www.lindsayletters.com
Cake: Cpeters@caseyscakeshop-kc.com

DIY Gold Dipped Votives

| by Heather Freeman

I almost feel guilty posting this as a project…This was literally the cheapest and easiest DIY I’ve ever attempted. No lie. These DIY gold dipped votives cost me under $5 and took less than 3 minutes. After loving metallics in my holiday decor so much, I began thinking of how I could incorporate more gold into my formal living room. I’ve seen some of the “gold dipped” projects on Pinterest lately and figured it couldn’t hurt to try it out. Had I known it would be this easy, I would’ve made them as gifts! Oh well, next Christmas.

DIY Instructions:
1. Pour gold paint in paper plate.
2. Roll votive rims in the paint and let excess paint drip back onto the plate.

3. Turn right side up and allow to dry.

That’s it!

The silver and gold trays were purchased before Christmas. They cost me a whopping $4 at Michael’s. As of now, the candles have landed on the mantel. (“Busty Lady” found a new home.) My mantel changes every month it seems…I just can’t get a good fix on it. Come February, I’m sure something will have shifted again. Does anyone else have a space like this that you just can’t seem to get right?!